• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.664-667
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• 2008

Since the advent of pedicle screw fixation system, posterior spinal fusion has markedly increased This intemal fixation system has been reported to enhance the fusion rates, thereby becoming very popular procedure in posterior spinal arthrodesis. Although some previous studies have shown the complications of spinal instruments removal, i.e. loss of correction and spinal collapse in scoliosis or long spine fusion patients, there has been no study describing the benefit or complications in lumbar spinal fusion surgery of one or two level. In order to clarify the effect of removal of instruments on mechanical motion profile, we simulated a finite element model of instrumented posterolateral fused lumbar spine model, and investigated the change of mechanical motion profiles after the removal of instrumentation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.139-142
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of spinal implant removal and to determine the possible mechanisms of pain relief. Methods: Fourteen patient~with an average of 42 years (from 22 to 67 years) were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion, who later developed recurrent back pain or persistent back pain despite a solid fusion mass. Patients' clinical charts, operative notes, and preoperative x-rays were evaluated. Relief of pain was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain change after implant removal. Clinical outcome using VAS and modified MacNab's criteria was assessed on before implant removal, 1 month after implant removal and at the last clinical follow-up. Radiological analysis of sagittal alignment was also assessed. Results: Average follow-up period was 18 months (from 12 to 25 months). There were 4 patients who had persistent back pain at the surgical site and 10 patients who had recurrent back pain. The median time after the first fusion operation and the recurrence of pain was 6.5 months (from 3 to 13 months). All patients except one had palpation pain at operative site. The mean blood loss was less than 100ml and there were no major complications. The mean pain score before screw removal and at final follow up was 6.4 and 2.9, respectively (p<0.005). Thirteen of the 14 patients were graded as excellent and good according to modified MacNab's criteria. Overall 5.9 degrees of sagittal correction loss was observed at final follow up, but was not statistically significant. Conclusion: For the patients with persistent or recurrent back pain after spinal instrumentation, removal of the spinal implant may be safe and an efficient procedure for carefully selected patients who have palpation pain and are unresponsive to conservative treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.203-207
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• 2012

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of screw fixation without bone fusion for unstable thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fracture. Methods: Nine patients younger than 40 years underwent screw fixation without bone fusion, following postural reduction using a soft roll at the involved vertebra, in cases of burst fracture. Their motor power was intact in spite of severe canal compromise. The surgical procedure included postural reduction for 3 days and screw fixations at one level above, one level below and at the fractured level itself. The patients underwent removal of implants 12 months after the initial operation, due to possibility of implant failure. Imaging and clinical findings, including canal encroachment, vertebral height, clinical outcome, and complications were analyzed. Results: Prior to surgery, the mean pain score (visual analogue scale) was 8.2, which decreased to 2.2 at 12 months after screw fixation. None of the patients complained of worsening of pain during 6 months after implant removal. All patients were graded as having excellent or good outcomes at 6 months after implant removal. The proportion of canal compromise at the fractured level improved from 55% to 35% at 12 months after surgery. The mean preoperative vertebral height loss was 45.3%, which improved to 20.6% at 6 months after implant removal. There were no neurological deficits related to neural injury. The improved vertebral height and canal compromise were maintained at 6 months after implant removal. Conclusion: Short segment pedicle screw fixation, including fractured level itself, without bone fusion following postural reduction can be an effective and safe operative technique in the management of selected young patients suffering from unstable burst fracture.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.666-673
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• 2013

Chloroform is harmful volatile organics and representatives of Trihalomethane (THM). Well-known removal methods of Chloroform are photo oxidation or OH radical oxidation. Plasma on water surface at slightly vacuum condition (45 torr) can produce OH radical and it will help chloroform removal. 81.5% of chloroform is removed by vacuum and plasma in 10 min.. Plasma can totally oxidize it till 2.8% and partially oxidize chloroform up to 18.5%. Water-surface plasma is good method to remove chloroform in short time.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.3141-3142
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• 2009

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2011

Adsorbent combination studies have been carried out to remove nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs: BTEX) out of a subway environment characterized by high flow and low concentration. Optimal conditions for the high removal efficiency of the concerned target compounds were obtained through testing a series of control factors such as adsorbent sorts, thicknesses, and superficial velocity. It was found that the efficiencies increased as the specific surface area of activated carbon and its thickness increased, and external void fraction decreased. Furthermore, mixed activated carbon with granular and constructed contents was extensively tested to reduce pressure drop through the carbon bed. It was found that the performance of higher contents of granular activated carbon was better than that of higher contents of the constructed carbon. When the mixed carbon was applied to the subway ventilation system in order to eliminate $NO_2$ and VOC simultaneously, the removal efficiencies were found to be 75% and 85%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.367-374
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• 2012

A flotation process has a shorter processing time and needs less space than a sedimentation process. Dissolved air flotation process (DAF) is an efficient flotation method and used in a conventional wastewater treatment process. However, DAF requires the circulation of water containing compressed air and requires expensive installation and operation cost. Plasma Air Flotation (PAF) process is able to float flocs by micro bubbles generated from underwater plasma without the circulation of bubbly water and additional saturators. Therefore, PAF can be an alternative solution overcoming economic barriers. In this study, Humic acid removal efficiency by PAF process was compared with that of sedimentation process. 44.67% and 87.3% reduction rate based on UV 254 absorbance has been measured in sedimentation and PAF respectively. In particular, PAF in the flocculation zone can dramatically remove humic acid from water. In flocculation zone, PAF can separate organic matters but sedimentation cannot.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2010

In order to treat soil contaminated with high percentages of water and petroleum, the combined microwave and thermal desorption process was studied, which was composed of the consecutive connection of two pre-treatment processes. For the thickness of the contaminated soil layer on the transfer conveyor belt, the optimal total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal rate was studied with respect to the duration of microwave exposure in the consecutive process combined with thermal desorption. The TPH removal rate when the contaminated soil layer thickness was 1 cm at 6 kW of microwave power was 80%. The removals rates for 2 and 3 cm soil layer thicknesses were both 70%. Under identical experimental conditions, the TPH removal rate for the microwave pre-treatment, when considering the soil particle size, was over 70%. The lowest TPH removal rate was achieved with a particle diameter of 2.35 mm. For contaminated soil with 30% water content, 6 kW and a thermal desorption temperature of $600^{\circ}C$ were the optimal operational conditions for the removal of THP. However, considering the fuel consumption cost, 4 kW and a thermal desorption temperature of $300^{\circ}C$ would be the most economic conditions.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

The main components of the KSTAR helium refrigeration system (HRS) can be classified into the warm compression system (WCS) and the cryogenic devices according to the operating temperature levels. The WCS itself consists of the compressor station (C/S) and the oil removal system (ORS). The process helium is compressed from 1 bar to 22 bar maximum in the C/S and downstream, the ORS removes the oil mixed in the helium to less than 10 ppbw as per the operation criteria of the cryogenic devices of the KSTAR HRS. After the installation, the pre-commissioning and commissioning activities were started on July, 2007. Before the start-up of the C/S, vibration measurement and the skid reinforcement jobs were performed for stable operation of the C/S. The results of the WCS performance tests met the requirements of the KSTAR HRS but satisfied the vibration level criteria only at the compressors' full load condition.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.427-431
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• 1998

In the previous report (Choi et al., 1997), the angiogenin binding peptides identified from a phage-peptide library were analyzed by using the fusion proteins composed of the Escherichia coli maltose binding protein and its corresponding peptides. However, it was difficult to obtain a sufficient amount of the fusion proteins required for further analysis because of the low expression level. We now report a high level expression of the fusion protein and analysis of its anti-angiogenin activity. The use of strong T7 promoter and removal of signal sequence allowed about a 20-fold increase in the expression efficiency of the fusion protein. We were able to obtain about 10 mg of purified fusion protein from one liter of culture. The purified fusion protein showed angiogenin-specific affinity and inhibited the binding of biotinylated actin to human angiogenin at $IC_{50}$ of 0.6 mM. Its anti-angiogenin activity was also revealed by the chorioallantoic membrane assay.